The beginning...opinions welcome!

[Uranium235]

Background: 2-year old house, 3 car attached garage, roughly 700 square feet with 11'7" ceilings. I am a minimalist by nature, and I don't like clutter. The goal for the garage is storage; my dream garage would be empty of everything except cars, workbenches, and tool storage. My next project is storage over the big garage door - probably a 4x8 sheet suspended from the ceiling and header. That should hold the garden implements and air compressor.
I do have 3 cars that live in the garage, but all Christmas decorations, etc. are in storage inside the house. Sadly, I am not allowed to have a shed, so lawn mower and gardening stuff does stay in the garage.
The garage is used for light to heavy maintenance and modification of the cars, and...well, that's about it.

The pics:

This is the "house" side. I have concrete stain to color the concrete along the bottom edge of that wall a more appealing, darker, gray. Try to ignore the lame shelving - it was leftover from my wife's closet when I put her custom closet system in. The floor is getting RockSolid, after the concrete is stained.


This is the "window" side. Again, ignore the shelving. Plans over here involve (someday) a lift, if I can find one that will fit. The far corner, on the left, will have the a stereo receiver on a shelf - I will need to put an outlet below it. The tires are temporary, they are waiting to go on the car once it warms up a little more, so they will be out of the way.


Back wall. The corrugated polycarbonate seen on the floor behind the car will be going up on the walls all the way around as a sort of protective wainscoting, with a red "chair rail" at the top. The cabinets are years old, and holding up pretty well considering their age and number of moves they have been subjected to. They hang from the wall on cleats, supported at the bottom by 2x4s covered in aluminum flashing.

Things I haven't decided on: to paint the walls or no? The paint on the walls is a flat white (builder paint), doesn't clean up well, and already has holes from where I used to have things mounted. And if so, what paint? REALLY not looking forward to taping off the ceiling and painting walls that high.
Thanks for the look, and I will update as I go!
Matt

 

[juice3250]

Forget the garage. I want to see more of that car!


Proverbs 16:20

 

[Uranium235]

That's my toy...I've had her for almost 15 years now, and no matter what new cars come out every year, I find that I would rather have that one. She is going to St. Louis next month for a little inpatient surgery though; heads, cam, valvetrain, all the goodies. I am doing the floor while she's out.

Matt

 

[taumac]

I believe you should paint the walls will high gloss white to brightens up space. Light the place up with lights in ceiling. I believe to achieve look you want is to get shelves from lowes. They are a smaller version than pallet racks. Then get the black totes with yellow tips for all your storage. Buy more than you need. Take advantage of the space above 8 ft to put stuff not used often out of the way. The floor can be done after all the work is done. No sense messing in up while in construction phase.

 

[55cadillacking]

Chad has a twin!

EMC2 and Chad will be great places to look for inspiration.

 

[ryanp77]

Nice looking garage you sound a lot like me, hate clutter and would love a shed but neighborhood won't allow it. What kind of bike do you ride? I see the helmets on top of the bench

 

[Uranium235]

Sigh, past tense. The roads, weather, and drivers in Illinois are not conducive to the way I ride motorcycles. I had a Yamaha FZ-1 and a couple Hayabusas before the move.

The hunt for high-gloss paint begins this weekend!

Lighting...ah, lighting. Going with the 4-foot T8s, and having the garage attic accessible is going to make wiring them much easier. Planning on 6 sets, two per bay. Maybe 3 per per bay. Can't decide on parallel to the doors or perpendicular. Thoughts?

How do I find EMC2 and Chad?

Thanks again guys, all your help and inspiration is making my poor patio shrink by the day!

Matt

 

[bczygan]

Another solution to storing yard maintenance equipment, and even children's bikes, is an enclosed trailer parked in the back yard.

Check what your rules are for this. Some places do not allow under any circumstances. Some allow only in rear yards and some require it to be parked on paving.

An large outside cabinet could be attached to an exterior wall for storage of shovels, rakes and weed whip.

 

[Uranium235]

No trailers either allowed here either. But, I am forming a solution in my brain. My deck sits about 4 feet off the ground. Since I am doing the patio anyway, I could enclose the other three sides of the deck and stash my mower underneath it, with a little access door or something. I saw it on DIY Network! It would also be a good place for patio furniture in the winter.

Matt

 

[bczygan]

No trailers either allowed here either. But, I am forming a solution in my brain. My deck sits about 4 feet off the ground. Since I am doing the patio anyway, I could enclose the other three sides of the deck and stash my mower underneath it, with a little access door or something. I saw it on DIY Network! It would also be a good place for patio furniture in the winter.

Matt

How about a gutted RV? Or a Sprinter van or cube van?

Here's an example of an exterior wall mounted cabinet. Make it bigger and with complementary finish to the house. Rakes and shovels etc.

Create some benches and planter boxes on the deck and use to stow things in there.

Create a waterproof space under your deck with a rubber membrane on plywood that is attached to the bottom of the deck joists with spacers and sloped for drainage.

Can you open up some space in your trusses, and provide access to that space, for long term storage?

At some point I would just add on to the house.

 

[Uranium235]

I have room in the garage attic between the trusses for long term storage, but with the garage ceiling so high, it's not easy to access. I think I am going to keep exploring the under deck option...waterproofing underneath is a stroke of brilliance!

 

[bczygan]

I have room in the garage attic between the trusses for long term storage, but with the garage ceiling so high, it's not easy to access. I think I am going to keep exploring the under deck option...waterproofing underneath is a stroke of brilliance!

For closing up the sides, I would build panels, that mount to the deck support posts, out of exterior or treated plywood. Then paint them flat black and cover with treated or cedar lattice that is also mounted with spacers, so it looks like you just have lattice panels with a dark space behind them. Trim out the edges for a finished look and stain to match the deck.

Make the door of a matching panel with hidden hardware.

Add evergreen shrubbery to minimize view of it all.

 

[Uranium235]

I like! But lattice has already been vetoed by the kitchen-in-chief. I was thinking fake stone, but none seems to be light enough to do it without a hassle. Not sure what other options there are. Luckily, still in the planning stages. Thank you!

 

[bczygan]

How about some privacy fencing to enclose a gathering area, with bench seating along a portion of it. Bench seat opens for storage of yard tools. Large planter box for mower.

Fake woodpile?

Put stepped sizes of planter boxes with storage of bikes in largest one.

What are the rules for enclosure of trash cans?

 

[bczygan]

Are you in a HOA?

 

[Uranium235]

Oh my gosh, I love that planter/bike storage idea! Currently, the boy's bike resides in the garage...mine stays in the house. I am in an HOA, and my trash cans also live in the garage (cannot be visible from the street except on trash day.)

 

[taumac]

Outdoor cabinets fall into the gray area being they are not a shed or a trailer. I love also in a HOA and my rules state no fences but sheds MUST be attached to home and look as part of home. This also requires the boards approval. I believe your best bet is to use under deck and maximize garage space. Use every damn inch of it. It's a trade off on nice minimal look verse maximum use. You got tons of room in that space IF you use it to its full potential. Check on my thread and you'll see how much can actually fit inside a 2 car and then fit the both cars. LOL

 

[55cadillacking]

Chad and EMC2 have spaces that I'm sure you'll appreciate, for a number of reasons:

Chad: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182914&highlight=chad's+makeover

EMC2: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181620&highlight=emc2

 

[Uranium235]

55 - thank you. Just checked out Chad and EMC2's garages. I will spending a ton of virtual time there.

 

[dubber]

Welcome! It is unfortunate for you (and your garage) that you are unable to have a shed as they most certainly help contain lawn overflow to its perfect spot. The lack of a basement also makes this a challenge. Luckily you have a minimalist personality so it will force you to be creative with your storage. Get everything up high and or against the front wall. That will really give you a maximum amount around all cars without issues of doors being awkwardly opened.

Love the viper as well btw..... But really.... doesn't that go without saying hahaha.

 

[Uranium235]

And the (near) finished product. Floor is done, but I am concerned about its longevity. Time will tell. Walls painted, bottom portion protected, chair rail attached. New storage added where necessary. Pics attached. My latest question. What to do about the stairs leading into the house...they kinda stick out like a sore thumb now. I think I'll stain the stairs themselves with the same concrete stain on the lower portions of the walls next to them. But the railings? Gray? Red? Leave them alone?

 

[BSAschields]

Nice job.... In my opinion , if you want the stairs to "disappear" then matching their surrounding would be the best advice. Definitely the grey for sure. Maybe without the red as that would also stand out. Everything grey including the door and jam would be super minimalist....